Gulls walk-off with sweep versus Wheaton

Sophomore Merry MacDonald delivers game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh

Sophomore Marry MacDonald was 2-2 including the game-winning hit in game two against Wheaton

April 19, 2008

BEVERLY, Mass. -
Endicott College sophomore Merry MacDonald (Braintree, Mass.) delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Gulls to a 6-5 victory, as the Blue and Green swept Wheaton College on Saturday in a doubleheader at Endicott Softball Field in Beverly, Mass.

The Gulls and Lyons, ranked first and fifth in New England, respectively, battled through three scoreless innings to begin game one.

With the bases loaded and the Gulls trailing by one in the bottom of the fifth, Endicott senior Rachel Pearson (Gales Ferry, CT) ripped a bases-clearing double to left center, putting EC ahead 3-1. Junior Meghan Sargent (Salisbury, Mass.) followed with a double of her own, scoring Pearson and giving Endicott a 4-1 advantage.

The Gulls added another run in the sixth on a two-out RBI single by Megan Downey (Ballston Lake, N.Y.), scoring freshman Jill Wiseman (Holden, Mass.).

The Lyons fought back in the top of the seventh with a solo shot from junior Lynn Cotto (Brookfield, Conn.), but eventually fell short, as Endicott took game one by a score of 5-2.

Lyons ace Jodi Moynagh took the loss, dropping her overall record to 16-4 on the season. Moynagh gave up four runs on four hits over five innings of work.

Senior Jenn Elwell (Tewksbury, Mass.) got the win for the Gulls, improving to 9-3. Elwell pitched great, surrendering just one earned run while going the distance for the win. Offensively Endicott was led by Rachel Pearson who was 1-2 with a walk, a run scored, and three RBI. Megan Downey was also a major contributor, going 2-2 with a stolen base, a sac bunt, and an RBI in the win.
Game two of the doubleheader was an absolute thriller.

With Wheaton ahead 1-0, Endicott freshman Ashley Wright (Merrimack, N.H.) smacked a one-out double and took third when she caught the Lyons defense napping. Junior Casey Shanley (Billerica, Mass.) tied the game on a single up the middle, scoring Wright from third.

The Lyons stormed back with two in sixth, scoring on a pinch-hit RBI single from freshman Katy Salka (Ayer, Mass.) and a costly Endicott error.

In the top of the seventh, with the Gulls one out away from victory, junior Stacey Kelleher hit a go-ahead two run homer over the wall in left, as the Lyons recaptured the lead 5-4.

After a leadoff single by Danielle Sargent got things started in the bottom of the seventh, Rachel Pearson surprised the Wheaton defense by laying down a bunt base hit. Sargent alertly took third on the play after noticing the bag had been left uncovered. Following an RBI single by senior Meghan Sargent that tied the game at 5-all, sophomore Merry MacDonald stepped to the plate and delivered a walk-off single, scoring Jill Wiseman with winning run.

Sophomore Andrea Bagley took the loss for Wheaton, falling to 8-6 on the year. She surrendered six runs on 10 hits in six plus innings.

Sophomore Maria Mangine escaped with the victory despite a blown save opportunity. Mangine is now a perfect 10-0 on the season. Offensively the Gulls were led by Merry MacDonald who was 2-2 with the game-winning hit. Casey Shanley also went 2-2 in the win with an RBI and a run scored.

With the sweep, the Gulls improve to 28-3 on the year, remaining 16-2 in the TCCC. Wheaton falls to 27-11 overall, staying put at 11-3 in the NEWMAC. Endicott will return to the diamond on Sunday, taking on Wentworth Institute of Technology in a TCCC doubleheader at Endicott Stadium. Game times are scheduled for 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.